Scottish football fan given 12-month match ban after making homophobic rant to police

A Celtic football fan who made a homophobic rant at police officers has been banned from attending football matches for a year.

Gary Prior, 21, was found guilty at Kircaldy Sheriff Court of public disorder at a football match, assaulting a police officer and committing a breach of the peace following his arrest.

The court heard Prior was first seen shouting support for a “prescribed terrorist organisation”, outside Raith Rovers’ Starks Park stadium in Kirkcaldy before the start of February’s home match against Celtic.

The Clydebank Post reports during his arrest Prior headbutted an officer and continued to act in an aggressive manner during the journey to Kirkcaldy Police Station.

Prior was also shouting and threatening police, before making comments of a homophobic nature, as well as making threats of violence towards them.

He was handed a one-year football banning order and issued with a £400 fine last week.

In response, Faith Millar, Football Liaison Prosecutor for the East of Scotland, said: “The [Crown Office] is absolutely determined to play its part in confronting the problems of violence motivated by prejudice or discrimination of any kind.

“Prosecutors will continue to work with the police to take whatever measures are necessary to protect genuine fans from criminal behaviour while attending football matches. We will prosecute anyone indulging in such behaviour with a zero-tolerance approach and reiterate the message that it has no place in modern Scotland.”